I hate sleep. There. I said it.
I don’t get people like my brother, who crawls into bed for a “sweet nap” whenever he’s bored. If I’m bored, I damn well wouldn’t be sleeping. Wait—that doesn’t matter, because I’m never bored. I always seem to have something to do.
And that’s precisely why I detest sleep. Because it is just a waste of time. 24 hours in a day is already not enough…so why would I want to be motionless with my eyes closed for hours when there are so many freaking things to do? But unfortunately, God designed humans so that we need to take a rest for 7-8 hours a day. If anybody knows why He did that, please enlighten me. I would really like to know.
That said, I have been sleeping 8 full hours for consecutive days. It’s a miracle! I usually get only 5 hours a sleep. Strangely, that has not messed up my productivity time. I still got things done. I still manage to have time to slip in a movie at night, and perhaps some blogging. So what does this say? Perhaps I’ve been sacrificing sleep for nothing. I need to experiment on this more…
Part of the reason why I’ve been able to sleep so much is because I’ve been dreaming a lot. Strange, but good dreams:
Yesterday, I dreamed that one of my friends who is struggling with an eating disorder called me up asking me to eat a Wendy’s burger with her.
Another day, I dreamed that I got a 99% on my final essay for my writing class (what bullshit)
I also dreamed that I became best friends with a popular blogger (not telling who) and she taught me how to hip-hop dance.
Sigh. If only all these dreams were true…
But I suppose that’s precisely why they are called dreams. They are wistful wishes that come true without any effort from our part. You know, I’ve always been a dreamer…but what do I actually do to achieve them? For example…
I wish I was a better Christian…yet I don’t communicate with God, or read His words as much as I should…
I wish I had better grades…yet I skip classes all the time, and rarely do my readings…
I wish I had more time…yet I waste a lot of the time I already have doing frivolous stuff…
That’s it! Time to stop wishing and to start actually doing something about it! I only get dreams when I’m sleeping anyway…when I’m motionless! Time to get moving, time to take action!
But first, let’s fuel myself with some food…
I have to admit, I’ve been extremely lazy these days, and I’ve been turning to the same stuff over and over, for the main reasons that 1) it’s fast and convenient; 2) it tastes good and is pretty nutritious; 3) I can get most of the ingredients from my school dining hall, which I now frequent daily like a kleptomaniac…
Anyway. Here’s what I’ve had for several days now:
Spicy-PB Vegetable and Cottage Cheese “Mix-it-up” Bowl
Base Ingredients:
- onions, diced
- bell pepper, diced
- mushrooms, diced
- zucchini, chopped
- tomatoes, diced
- bean sprouts
- kidney beans
- spinach
- Soul Food Seasoning (from Biz)
Dressing Ingredients:
- 2 spoonfuls soy sauce
- 2 spoonfuls peanut butter
- 2 spoonfuls Habanero-Lime Salsa (from Christina)
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 4 yukon gold potatoes
- hot sauce
Okay, first the potatoes. I roasted them hasselback-style, by slicing numerous slits down the center of each potato, but not all the way through. And then I sprinkled them with this amazing seasoning: 
Biz, thank you SO much for this. I’m obsessed with this seasoning now. I practically sprinkle them on anything and everything!
And then roast the potatoes in 425 degree oven until cooked through: 
Nice and crunchy!
For the dressing ingredients, just mix everything together until smooth.
And the base ingredients: Mix everything together with plenty of that incredible Soul Food seasoning (or just salt and pepper if you don’t have it). Cook it with the dressing.
Ladle the cooked ingredients into a dish. Top with cottage cheese and potatoes. Sprinkle with hot sauce. That’s it! 
Now wasn’t that the easiest thing you’ve ever heard! Well, next to pouring cereal in a bowl, of course. But this is much better. It looks more impressive!
Everything should be topped with something golden and crunchy… 
Wheee! Look at it do a back-bend! Potato doing yoga! 
Creamy, crunchy, spicy, peanut buttery…mmmm… 
Now, isn’t this the perfect college student’s meal? 
But on to the perfect college student’s snack…
I once said I hate bars. Okay, not just once. Several times, in fact. Well, I put my foot in my mouth, because I’ve decided that I do like bars. Love them, in fact. It just depends on what bars they are.
Perfect Foods Bar sent me two of each of the following bars:
- Carob Chip
- Peanut Butter
- Fruits & Nuts
- Cranberry Crunch (Lite)
Here’s what they say about their bars:
“Perfect Foods Bars are made from a delicious creamy blend of organic peanut butter and honey. The organic honey provides quick balanced energy and the added omega-3 “healthy fats” increase endurance. There’s also plenty of easy to digest, alkaline forming protein for immediate tissue repair. Enjoy this innovative approach to consuming over 30 different high nutrient foods not readily available in today’s fast pace society.”
Okay, peanut butter and honey. What’s not to love? Plus they’ve got 30 different high nutrient foods. But what about the taste?
Well, all I can say is: I’m not sure if Perfect Foods Bar is the perfect food, but it is the perfect bar indeed. Oh Em Gi. So. Freaking. Good. 
They just completely melt in your mouth like fudge. I store them in the fridge, so when they enter my mouth it is cold and firm, but then slowly dissolves in my tongue…a delicious blend of pure peanut butter and intense honey… 
The only thing is that it isn’t mixed with all the artificial crap, so the taste is pretty strong, bold, and intense…not a bad thing at all, but you just don’t want to finish the whole bar in one sitting, or it does get rather cloying. 
I think I’ve waxed enough poetry about Perfect Foods Bar. My conclusion is this: Larabar, bye bye. You guys really got to check this stuff out!
Another bar that I’ve really enjoyed was sent by my freaking sweet friend Natalie from Eating to Live Life After ED: 
They’re called Spring Hill gourmet bars, and they were amazing. Once again, I chilled them in the fridge first. And they’re incredibly crumbly, buttery, and exactly like a shortbread cookie.
Here’s the Wildberry & Nougat one: 
And the Chocolate & Oat one: 
And my personal favorite, the Muesli bar: 
Sorry, I don’t know where to get them here in the States. Of course. All the good stuff has to be somewhere else! Sigh. Well, we can only dream that they’ll sell them in U.S. stores someday…
Speaking of dreams…Here’s today’s question of the day:
Had any good dreams lately? Is there a dream that you are actively going to pursue instead of wishing for it to come true?
Related posts:
Wow that is my kind of mix up bowl! Love the taters! My dreams are epic, vivid and mostly horrible, I wish I would not dream )
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I could nap every day and that would be awesome!
I love those Taters! I make some kind of potato thing every week and I have NEVER cut my potatoes like that. I bet it would be good even with the skin on!
I’ll have to ask my sister where she got that seasoning from, or ask for it in my Christmas stocking!
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I have a love/hate relationship with sleep. I love it and crave it but at the same time I LOVE waking up in the morning. Because I love my breakfast/blogging routine. So I typically get around 6 hours of sleep plus a nap if i’m lucky on the weekdays and then 8-ish on the weekends. I haven’t been dreaming as much lately, which is weird because I’ve been known to have some vivid dreams.
Your dreams sound awesome! I think you’re right though…enough with this wishing! It’s time to start DOING.
This meal looks great. I can’t believe how well you’ve cut those potatoes. Hasselbacked heaven. I used to steal from my dining hall all the time. It’s not really stealing if you’re paying tuition. That was how I justified it.
I’ve never thought to put bars in the fridge. Maybe they would taste so much better that way! The only bars I really like are Larabars but I will have to look for this other brand.
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Hip hop, huh? Sounds like fun!
Your Mix-It-Up Bowl is gorgeous! I love all the veggies and the sauce sounds so good (I love PB in savory sauces…so incredible!).
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when i take a nap most of the times headach hits on me which i rili hate! most of the times i try not to take though i get very tired!
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I had a dream that I had all this fudge–all different types and flavors–and I couldn’t get rid of it! More and more boxes kept appearing!
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what an insanely awesome breakfast!
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haha, i wish i hated sleep! i love it a little toooo much!! glad you are managing to get your rest in though. super important!! :O)
- Beth @ http://www.DiningAndDishing.com
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I love sleeping in, but I hate going to bed, if that makes any sense at all!
You are such a talented photog and writer- your post is so pretty to read!
My dreams are scattered and random in my sleep. My life dreams are still hazy, but I’m workin them out~
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I love sleep when I’m having good dreams, when I have bad dreams not so much.
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thats funny you hate sleep! i feel like all my friends look forward to their naps-of-the-day..i definitely don’t have time for those either, but relaxing is always nice
your potato looks AWESOME though..what a fun way to eat potatos!
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I love sleep (maybe because I get far too little of it)…
The potatoes look amazing. Beautiful pictures as always, Sophia!
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oh man i totally know what you mean about sleep, i have totally been letting it stress me out lately—ridiculous. awesome dreams though
i never seem to remember mine…
potato doing yoga, i laughed out loud, loveee it
& all those bars look delicious, jealous!
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Ooh, I like your fancy-cut potatoes in today’s Mix-it-up bowl!
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Sophia…you should know by now that nothing come without effort
Love the way that you prepared the potato…will definitely try it…the colors of the dish are very nice.
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I tend to have a lot dreams, vivid dreams, but sadly they are often negative. Still, I love sleep though. I definitely can relate to your brother. I guess I don’t see it as a waste of time because it helps me to recharge and distress.
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Those potatoes look so pretty! I hated bars until I tried a Glo-bar!
I can’t believe you don’t like sleep!! I could never survive on 5 hours a night – never!
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That’s your idea of a lazy meal? Whoa, then I must be really lazy =P I love your mix it up bowls because it gives me new ideas for sauces and flavor combinations!
I have dreams all the time, but they’re usually not that great. If I have a good one, which is pretty rare, I don’t want to wake up from it! I usually have those dreams where I’m running away from something. My mom says that means I’m growing, but I hope not, because I’m tall enough as it is!
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I used to get 2-4 hours of sleep per night because I did WAY too much in high school. Now I refuse to get less than 7-8 or I am a cranky biznatch. You never realize how great getting enough sleep is until you actually do. SO VITAL FOR LIFE. Seriously, sleep is amazing.
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I loooove sleep! I don’t do naps though . I can’t sleep when its light out. But at night. oh yeah.
those potatoes are all sorts of gorgeous
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Wow those do sound like the perfect bars. Including the gourmet ones Natalie sent you. I read the word “nougat” and I was like O_O that sounds awesome!
By the way, I love you cut up your potatoes!!
http://www.ohonemorething.wordpress.com
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i heart the perfect foods bar. i have only had the peanut butter but it was life changing. i cant find those around here yet, but i am determined i will find them somewhere!
let’s see…i keep having this recurring dream that i show up at places without pants on…which i know sounds oodd but its like i am really embarrassed about it, and don’t know what to do. perhaps i should google that?
love you girl!
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how about i do all your sleeping for you
i could sleep for days! and i LOVE LOVE LOVE those perfect food bars. the PB one? i die.
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I’m with you! Sleep, Smeep! I love the Sam Elliot line from the movie Road House, “I’ll get all the sleep I need when I’m dead. Of course, he did die in that movie. What a silly movie!
I really want to make my potatoes just this way next time! Fabulous!!
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Slicing potatoes like that is a skill! There was once a dream that involved killer potatoes. That was scary.
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I have missed reading your blog so much. And your dishes are still just as drool worthy! Nice to hear about the new bars, they look awesome! I say go for those wishes you listed honey pot! You can do it!
Me, I’m dreaming of the day that my long distance boyfriend is not long distance any more. Which hopefully will be in a couple of months. He’s the real reason I moved out of Baltimore. :p 7 years now we’ve known each other. I’m tired of waiting! lol.
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I hated sleeping too! But now, I kinda enjoy it, except when I get nightmares. Hehe… Some are real scary, but sometimes are really hilarious. I wake up laughing to myself when I get those out-of-the-world dreams. Hee… =P
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I had the funniest dream where I won the Australian version of The Apprentice! Although that didn’t make me motivated to try out for it!
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When Im anxious or worried I never seem to sleep a full 7 hours. When Im content with my life, Im like your brother..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Sounds like you are content. Now I need to go slice my potatoes so they look as cute as yours!!!
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first, those potatoes look awesome! I just want a plate of those
Yes…there are tons of things I wish were different, but then I don’t do anything about them.
Especially being closer to God, like you said. My life should not get in the way of that – my life is here because of Him and He should have more of it.
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the older i get, the less i remember my dreams, which is a shame because i loved spending the day reliving them! this is a killer dish, i’m going to make tatos like that for my hubby tonight!
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WOW that one is one gorgeous meal! Those potatoes, cottage cheese, everrrything, looks amazing.
I can hardly remember my dreams. My roommates always tell me I laugh in my sleep…so I guess it’s something good?? Haha.
I agree with you though. I don’t like sleeping much. Not even that I don’t like it, but I really can’t. My roommates can take naps all throughout the day, but I just can’t do it. I’d rather be out and doing things.
And your wishes are all great. And I relate to so many of them!
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I don’t like potatoes, but those paired with that dip look delish! As do the bars from Natalie- YUM. Are you going home for Thanksgiving? Dude, I want to send you something
Dreams… I am really trying to figure out what my dreams are. I am thinking of going back to school in January- something low-key and purely for interest and fun and I have absolutely NO idea what to do. I miss dancing a lot, but that’s out of the question so…hmmm…thinking writing.
Agree 100% that sleep is a waste of time. Bah. Too much to do as it is!
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I’ve actually had some bad bad dreams lately…stemming out of anxiety i bet from wanting to go do dental school in Cali!!
I wish I were there already! I’d love to make it a goal to celebrate my next birthday with you! hahaha That would be SO DAMN awesome. May i request those amazing looking potatoes you made?? I would eat that over any bar, ANY day of my life.
Sophia, you are so destined to be a food writer and food creator..probably a cook book author? I don’t know! Maybe someone like Mark Bittman, the NY Times food writer!
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I am always impressed with your exquisite plating. The taters look delicious!
As for dreams, I think I’ve reached that point in pregnancy where I get little interrupted sleep. Perhaps I could borrow some of your sleepy mojo.
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A delicious bowl and the potatoes look so pretty! You remind me of a first “fight” my husband and I had and it was about sleep. He needs his 8-10 hours of sleep and I never used to sleep that much. Around the time when I met him, I probably slept at most 4 hours a night. Then, I went to full 8 for a few years. I’m now settled with 6 or 7
I also used to get a lot of lucid dreams, not so much anymore.
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That looks pretty fantastic to me, I wouldn’t mind eating that every day! What a great idea for the taters, yummy! Oh how I wish I could get more sleep, usually it’s around 6-7 hrs, mostly 6. If I do get a bad nights sleep, it usually takes a few days before my body revolts and i feel like complete hell.
I can’t ever remember my dreams! Usually if I do it’s about 1-2x per month. Is that weird??
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Sophia, I don’t know if I’ve ever told you but I love your blog
I’ve never followed one of your recipes from beginning to end but I LOVE them anyways because they give me ideas, open me up to new veggies, etc. So thank you!
Also, I must say that I LOVE sleep! I’m often tired and even though I have trouble falling asleep (and staying asleep), I still love it
For the 1 in every 100 sleeps that is wonderful!
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Yay for turning from words to deeds. And you’re crazy about sleep. I love it. Besides, how can you be bored when you’re sleeping?!
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You are not dreaming now, I am here commenting
The potatoes remind me of slinkies, you might be too young to know what that its, but you are old enough to know what good food to put into your body to get brain food. Do you really skip? Does your parents read this, he he
xoxo momma cookappeal
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I kind of agree with you about sleep being a waste of time–I mean, think how much we could accomplish if we had an extra 6 or so hours in the day, eh? But I also know that I could never get anything done if my body wasn’t properly rested, so I am pretty dutiful about hitting the hay like an old lady
I don’t mind the sleeping so much, but i do HATE to dream. There is nothing worse than having my blissful blank slate disrupted by some cockamamie fantasy. Call me cranky 
P.S. I have never seen potatoes like that, and it’s genius! I will have to give that a shot. And with peanut butter? hmmmmm
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I love sleeping in because I just feel so much better afterwards! But, I agree, how nice would it be if we had those extra 8 hours a day to be productive?
Love those potatoes on top of your mix it up bowl – they just make the dish extra tasty
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I have never been a nap taker either–I think sleep during the day is SUCH a waste of time. But when it comes night time, I need sleep or I cannot function the next day
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I also hate sleep, naps and I hate resting! lol!
I wish I had more time…yet I waste a lot of the time I already have doing frivolous stuff…
ME TOO
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I completely agree with you on sleeping. I hate that I have to sleep some hours. I wish a day was more than 24 hours, it’s definitely not enough! Or I wish I had a stonger body to be satisfied with a sleep of 3 or 4 hours.
And I admire the shape of that potato picture especially the one doing yoga. So appealing!
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I hate sleep too – I think it goes back to when my mom wanted me to take a nap, and I felt deprived. Now I can appreciate she needed some time to herself, but then, I felt I was cheated out of fun!
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